Time to upgrade - looking for feedback

[Kilika]

Hi guys & gals

I'm considering a Lobo Super Traq for nugget shooting... here's the skinny..

In Washington state, lots of mineralization, especially copper and silver. Plan to use it along the rivers, so has to deal with wet sand. (also, with all our rain the ground is often wet when I go out.) Leaning towards the LST because of the auto GB. I'm a bit intimidated by manual GB because I'm worried I would spend so much time rebalancing that it would be frustrating, and how do you know when it needs to be rebalanced? Also, I read that it has a setting for alkiline soils. Does this mean it will be good for saltwater beach hunting as an all purpose machine?

I have an Ace 250 , and it's been alot of fun, but now I'm ready to go for the gold. The frustration I've had with the Ace is mainly that it doesn't handle wet sand/high water table or high mineralization well, and I know it's not the right frequency for gold ( although it's done just fine on gold jewelry ). From what I've read, the LST is more popular for desert nugget shooting so the question is... (insert drumroll here)..
will it be good for my area? or should I be looking at the Goldbug ll , and just learn to deal with the manual ground balance? What are the differences, if any, in your finds between these two machines? I've seen feedback that says GB2 for smaller, shallower vs. LST for bigger, deeper but since I haven't had any luck prospecting with my Ace, I don't know which to go for! I have found small (tiny) flakes panning, so I know it's out there!!

Looking for some feedback on the trade-offs between auto and manual ground balance, and also which would be good for saltwater beach hunting.

Thanks for your help- Kilika

[j.letson]

You have a couple more choices depending how much you want to spend. the GMT is a fine machine with both auto and manual GB but for salt water I think your best combo machine would be minelabs X-terra 70 Good little gold machine from what I've read and seen using the dd coil and has settings for beach etc. They have a pro pack deal now which has stock coil and dd elliptical for prospecting and case $798.00 and some dealers are throwing in extras too. I am thinking of picking one of these for myself. Just my 2¢

[golddigger14s]

I have a GB II and once you learn how to ballance it's not that hard. I'm heading to Tacoma/Olympia in August so I would like to hear what you get and how it's working.

[Hoser John]

GB2 and TLoboST rock my nugget shooting world!! Tons a au 2 u 2-John

[Hemisteve]

Don't be afraid of a manual gb machine. Once you start learning what it is telling you, keeping it tuned becomes intuitive and you do it without even thinking about it. Some areas to hunt are tricky and being able to adjust the gb a little hot can mean the difference between a nug and a skunk.

My 2 cents worth

Good luck
HH
Steve

[nuggetshooter323]

The LST is a great gold hunter, you would not feel like you would need any other VLF detector for a long time. I have one and it works in any minerlized ground ground here in Colorado, also the coil selection is pretty good. The LST has a great discriminator, so it is used in a lot of places as a coin shooter and a relic detector. The biggest difference's between the GBII and the LST, is the LST is auto ground balance and the GBII is manual. Once you take the 5 minutes it takes to learn how to ground balance the GBII, you might like manual ground balance better. The GBII is said to be the best for finding tiny gold, but the LST is no slouch. I have heard some people report that the GBII doesn't handle the minerlized ground as good as some detectors, but this characteristic is what probably gives it the ability to find the small stuff. One thing that I have learned, is no single gold detector is the perfect detector for everywhere. You have to find the features on the detector that best matches the characteristics of the terrain and the types of gold you are looking for. If you get gold fever like everyone else does, you will eventually get several gold detectors.

[Jim Hemmingway]

Hi Kilika,

Good post Nuggetshooter323!!
Kilika, all the above posts provide solid information. Don't be concerned if you elect to go with a manual GB. It's simple to adjust, and allows you some small advantages as well, for example, reducing hot rock response, and evaluating rocks with small amounts of metal in them vs iron minerals. Auto GB gets you up and running right away without concern about changing mineralization. Variable ground, especially harsher ground...autotracking is nice to have.

Hoser John above, has a real good set-up with both the Lobo and Goldbug2. The Lobo offers a full range discriminator with preset GB in addition to ground tracking in all metal prospecting mode, therefore it has better all around capability, but not quite as sensitive to small gold as either the GMT or the Goldbug2. The GMT rivals the Goldbug2 for small gold, but does better with deeper larger gold, and has manual/tracking ability. I would not use either the GMT or the Goldbug2 on a wet salt beach...there are far better choices available.

Regarding "all rounders" like the Lobo, since you do mention wanting to use it in salt environments as well, either the XT-70 or White's MXT would be two "all rounders" that would also give you some flexibility in other types of hunting (both having full range discrimination circuits), while still providing good all metal mode prospecting (nugget hunting) capability. The 70 has both manual and tracking GB, while the MXT has fast and accurate auto tracking that can be "locked-in" anytime. The MXT also provides a visual readout in prospecting mode for % iron probability, VDI #, and ground phase, plus a wider assortment of coil sizes. As well, it provides a salt tracking option.

The Lobo too has a wide variety of coils, and is known to be a "smooth" operator over bad ground. It's a long time favourite of many veterans. The XT-70 is lightweight, while the MXT is more weighty by comparison. These units are all good single frequency "all rounder" choices, as long as you realize they are not as sensitive to very tiny gold as the dedicated nugget hunting units (GB2 and GMT). Have fun

PS: Forgot to mention, that while being "single frequency" detectors, the XT-70 offers the option of running at three separate frequencies depending on which coil is attached. This means you have to buy the extra coil(s) for the two other frequencies offered, in addition to the standard (7.5 kHz) coil provided with the unit. As j.letson above described, there's currently a deal on the coils where you can get the DD prospecting coil pretty much thrown in along with the standard coin hunting coil.

Jim.

[El Cooter]

Whites GMT is my choice and the choice of most of my friends. It has alot to offer, check it out!




Cooter

[Jim Hemmingway]

Howdy Chris,

I didn't push the dedicated units (GMT or Goldbug2, Eureka etc) because he mentioned that salt water beach hunting was a consideration as well as nugget hunting... presumeably with the same unit. That's why the emphasis went to the "all-rounder" units.

Strictly nugget hunting, I don't think anyone would argue the merits of the GMT....it's a great VLF nugget hunter and would be my first choice hands down.

Haven't seen you much here lately, hope you have done well in that area you spoke about earlier. I guess you've been busy. Won't be long and I'll be gone north for a long stretch. See ya and good luck Chris....Jim.

[El Cooter]

Hi Jim,

I guess I missed the saltwater beach part. I havent had any good finds the past couple of weeks. Too many birthdays and graduations this time of the year..



Chris

[Jim Hemmingway]

June 1st/08

Hi Chris,

I know what you mean. My two youngest are preparing for college this year. In addition, with all the spring cleaning around the house, I've had a hard time getting out much to do anything.

I'm wondering if we could do a little test and share results. I recently got an F-75, plus I've got a small nugget imbedded in plastic, about one-eighth inch wide by one-quarter inch long. Sounds bigger than it looks. I'd guess it's around 3 or 4 grains or so. If you've got a similar size nugget, could we both bury 'em and see just how deep we can get a signal that we'd dig (the barest whisper) with max useable sensitivity. Maybe take a ground phase reading, plus an iron oxide reading to qualify our results. It's not an ideal test comparison, but anything is better than nothing. Please let me know, if you come back and see this post.

Jim.

[Kilika]

Thanks for all the replies!

I've given up on the idea of finding one machine that will handle prospecting and saltwater beaches, so to emphasize the prospecting angle, wouldn't the MXT be better than the GMT?
Pretty much resigned myself that eventually I'll end up with several detectors, so the beach will have to wait!

[Hemisteve]

Hi Kilika,
The GMT is a Gold Prospecting machine only.
The MXT is a three mode detector. Coin/Jewelry, Relic, and Prospecting.

So which one is better for you? Only you can decide.
The GMT will find more gold(50 Mhz), but the MXT is a more versatile machine(15Mhz).

If you are serious about gold prospecting and will be doing it alot, then by all means pick up the GMT.

I have had a Goldmaster3/vsat since 98 and recently picked up an MXT for coin and relic hunting because the GM3 is the wrong frequency for that type of hunting. It's also nice to have a back up just in case Murphy shows up.

Good luck in your decision, It drove me nuts for weeks trying to decide which new machine to purchase.

HH
Steve

[El Cooter]

Okay Jim, I can do that. I will use a flat solid piece at 2 grains.



Cooter

[Jim Hemmingway]

Chris,

Thankyou, it's raining today, but I'll get out tomorrow and do the test and readings, and report back. I think whoever does it first should maybe start a new thread so as to not highjack this one any further.

I'll use the standard DD 11 inch coil and hope you'll use your 10 inch DD as well.

Kilika,

If it's going to be prospecting only, go for the GMT. You never hear a negative remark about this machine, nothing but praise....that's because it has earned respect from experienced, knowledgeable electronic prospectors. Keep in mind the MXT can handle a wider variety of hunting scenarios (and does have the salt tracking switch) with the additional discrimination circuits...plus a wide coil type and size selection. It won't do as well on tiny gold as the GMT, but still...it'll get you a third to a half grain, which is not too shabby considering the other benefits. I have agonized over this type of decision, so I do sincerely wish you all the best.

Jim.

[nuggetshooter323]

One of the differences between the MXT and the GMT for prospecting, is that the MXT requires more setup and more experienced interpretation of the VDI readings. A lot of people here in Colorado tell me that they use the jewelery mode in combination with some other settings to be able to avoid digging iron trash at old mining sites. I'm just about to buy a GMT. It will compliment my Lobo Super Traq, and the iron discrimination features will help me maximize my time out on the tailing piles so I don't have to keep digging rusty spikes at 15".

[Kilika]

Jim-

Thanks for the info, and THANKS for taking your test results to a new thread!


nugget-

The GMT is a better nugget shooter because.... why? Higher frequency? I thought the LST with the higher frequency coil would be comparable. Are there other features I'm missing?

[Jim Hemmingway]

Hi Kilika,

Yes, the GMT's higher frequency gives it an edge over the Lobo for finding the tiniest nuggets and flakes. There may be other design features that also come into play as well, I don't know.

I think it was Jim McCullock that did a post here not that long ago, that emphasized the difference between the two units. His GMT clearly outperformed the Lobo on tiny nuggets, and by quite a margin. If I recall correctly, the Lobo did find a larger piece, but would not pick-up the nearly 80 other tiny pieces the GMT did get. Why don't you email him, and get his opinion. Also, if you prefer, go to Steve Herschbach's Alaska Gold Forum and see Steve's opinions on all these units. He makes himself very clear, and does know what he's talking about. I believe his current VLF favourite is the GMT.

If you are keen on getting the Lobo, it'll do you just fine, especially if you pick-up a smaller coil as well. It's a great unit, well proven, smooth over bad ground, has the salt switch, hip mountable...and therefore very lightweight. As said above, it also provides you a preset ground balance disc circuit to make it more versatile. In all-metal is features ground tracking too. Keep in mind, if you think a display would be an interesting feature to have in prospecting mode on an "all around unit", then consider the MXT.

Jim.

[Kilika]

Thanks to all for your great replies!

I pulled the trigger today and got (insert drumroll) the GMT

It was a tough decision because it was quite a chunk of change for my budget, but now I'm pretty excited to get out hunting.
Came home, watched the DVD, fell asleep reading all the posts on here, had nugget-finding dreams
Too bad I only have one day off left before I have to go back to work...

I chose the GMT because of the ability to choose between manual/auto ground balance, and because of 48khz vs. 15khz on the MXT, and because of the iron probability feature, and because of the 'follow the black sand' feature which I don't really understand yet but am looking forward to learning.
I expect it will be a steep learning curve for awhile... that's OK - I love a learning adventure!

In recent news, I took my sister into the hills to do some prospecting. She got pretty excited about "all the gold flakes floating around in her pan"! I explained that real gold doesn't float, and showed her where it would show up in her pan, but she said "you just don't like MY gold"
Oh, well... we had a great time anyway and I did find one specimen with lots of copper, turned it over, and viola! - lots of little flecks of gold! I'm pretty sure it's real. We were near an old copper mine where they also took out good values in gold. The gold looks more embedded in the rock, not in sheets on the top. It stays a nice yellow color in any light, and no matter which way I turn it, it doesn't turn dark or greenish. It doesn't chip off in flakes, and when I poked at it, it just kind of dented, not crumbly. Also, in one spot it actually follows a little crack or 'vein' in the matrix. A tiny, tiny vein, but still...
fools gold won't show up in a vein will it? Sorry, no pics. I don't have a digital camera.(And I just blew all my cash )

Also, I found a nice 18k wg ring at the beach, with 8 small diamonds down the sides and a humongous center stone. Turns out the center one is a CZ, probably meant to be replaced later. Didn't think the center one looked quite right, but almost had a heart attack when I cleaned it off enough to see it was 18k ! Found that with my Ace.

Sorry for the long post but I was on a roll...

Thanks again for all the help making my momentous decision. I think I'll be quite happy with the GMT. (At least until I'm ready to get back to the beach). And you can bet I'll be devouring all the posts on here about my new toy! You guys ROCK!!

Speaking of... did you see Steve Herschbach's posts about his new TDI?? Some great photos on that post...

Kilika

[Jim Hemmingway]

Hey Kilika,

Congrats on your new GMT, you've made an excellent choice. Don't be afraid to take it to the beach, just stay up on the beach where it's dry and you should be fine. May have to reduce the sensitivity and so on.

Sometimes gold flakes will float in the pan due to surface tension. To help settle them down, try a bit of soap/detergent ie something to break the surface tension of the water. Yes, iron pyrite can be found on rocks in just about any configuration..but your description does indicate it's gold. Wish you every success, and welcome to this forum as an electronic prospector!

Jim.